Tile

Installing Vinyl Tiles With Grout

If you are after a flexible self-adhesive tile that is sealed like a ceramic tile floor, installing vinyl tiles with grout gives you the perfect alternative to more costly natural stone or ceramic flooring. However, grouting vinyl tile is totally different from grouting ceramic or natural stone tiles for several reasons. To start with, groutable vinyl tile flooring uses an acrylic based grout instead of traditional cement-based products. Groutable vinyl floor tiles are also thinner, so the joints will be shallower. Installed properly, grout vinyl tile flooring can offer you years of service and look great with minimal expense.

Lay Down the Vinyl Tiles

To lay down vinyl tiles with grout the first step is placing them on the area where they will be installed, paying careful attention to the joints. Groutable vinyl floor tiles come in different styles, but the majority will have either rounded edges or bevelled edged. If your grout vinyl tile flooring has rounded edges, you will need to space them as you would ceramic tiles. Otherwise, they need to touch each other and the grout will be placed right above the joint. You may need to cut some tiles to fit the edges of the floor. If you already know how to install vinyl floors, the procedure is exactly the same at this point.

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Attach the Tiles To The Subfloor

If you are using peel and stick vinyl tile squares you will need to remove the backing and glue them to the floor. For non adhesive vinyl tiles you will need to use vinyl floor tile adhesive to make sure they are perfectly glued to the floor. The floor needs to be perfectly clean and flat in order for the vinyl to stick. If the floor isn’t dry or clean enough, or the surface is not even, the tiles will lift up and you will need to glue them again. Use a vinyl tile roller to make sure there are no bubbles and the tiles stick to the floor. You will need to leave the vinyl tile adhesive to dry for a few hours, usually overnight, but check out your manufacturer’s instructions.

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Installing Vinyl Tiles With Grout

So far, installing vinyl tiles with grout is not very different from installing normal vinyl tiles. So the next step after the tile adhesive is dry is actually grouting your new vinyl floor. You will need to mix the grout following the manufacturer’s instructions, and scoop a bit of it with a grout float. Place the grout on the joints of your groutable vinyl floor tiles and drag it carefully, making sure to cover the joint while remaining level with the tiles. Start with a small amount of grout to avoid making a mess and remember you will need much less grout than if you were installing ceramic tiles.

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Once your new groutable vinyl tile flooring is done, you will need to use a damp grout sponge to wipe the tiles and shape the grout lines. However, you will need to be extra careful because the grout joints at this point are very shallow and you could just wash out the entire thing and would need to start again. Once you are done, you will need to wait between 24 to 48 hours before walking on the floor to give time for the vinyl tile grout to dry, and then it’s time to enjoy your new grouting vinyl tile flooring.

Installing Vinyl Over Vinyl Sheets

Filed Under: DIY Installation

Vinyl tiles are an easy and affordable way of giving a room a totally new look. They are easier to install than vinyl sheets, and if you are not very experienced at DIY they are definitely the best option. But if you already have a vinyl floor, a common concern is whether installing vinyl over vinyl sheets is possible. In most cases, installing over sheet vinyl is possible, but you will need to prepare the floor correctly.

Is The Old Floor Lifting Up?

First of all you will need to check out the conservation status of your existing vinyl flooring. The most important thing to look at is whether it’s perfectly bonded to the subfloor. Old vinyl flooring in need of maintenance often shows signs of lifting from the subfloor, and will need some vinyl flooring repair in order to install vinyl tiles on top. Use vinyl flooring glue and wait a few days to see if the old vinyl flooring lifts again. If it does, removing vinyl floor with a knife may be easier than installing over vinyl flooring that is in such bad shape.

Are There Marks Or Deep Scratches?

If the existing vinyl flooring has cuts, holes or deep scratches, those imperfections will make installing vinyl over vinyl difficult and will need to be fixed before continuing. If there is a lot of damage you may be better off removing the old floor and preparing the subfloor for laying vinyl floor directly on top of it. If the imperfections are minor, you can fix them using a self-levelling embossing solution to fill the holes, and make sure the entire floor is perfectly flat.

Installing Vinyl Tile Over Existing Vinyl Floor

In order to install your new vinyl luxury tile you will need the floor to be perfectly clean and flat. Start with using a good floor cleaning liquid, but avoid those that have wax or give a glossy finish. Use a clean mop, and change the water as soon as it gets dirty. You need a really spotless surface for the self adhesive vinyl tiles to stick properly. Dry the floor using towels, and make sure there is no soap residue at all. Leave the floor to dry (and make sure you don’t step on it with dirty feet) and apply a coat of vinyl primer on the vinyl sheeting to improve the adhesive effects. Once the primer is dry it’s time to lay your new vinyl flooring on top of the old one.

If you are using vinyl tile squares it’s better to start in the middle of the room and move outwards towards the walls, so if you need to cut any tile it’s only one that is close to the wall. Be careful when cutting vinyl flooring over existing vinyl, as you could make a hole that would need to be fixed before you can install the tiles. Depending on the size of the room, this work can take less than a day. Just make sure you are very careful and align each tile perfectly with the ones next to it so the effect is of a professional vinyl tile installation over your old vinyl sheet flooring.

Why Choose Vinyl Kitchen Tile Flooring

Filed Under: Information

The kitchen floor is usually one of the areas of the house that needs more cleaning and has higher requirements in terms of hygiene. After all, nobody wants to make dinner in dirty environment fill of bacteria! Choosing vinyl flooring for kitchen has become a very popular option because is easy to clean and resistant to bacteria growth. Vinyl kitchen tile floors come in a large variety of colours and patterns, and can be installed by the homeowner, making them a very attractive choice of flooring for any kitchen.

Vinyl Kitchen Tile Is Versatile

Unlike wood or natural stone, vinyl tiles come in all the colours of the rainbow, and as such they can be matched to any decorative style. From checked black-white vinyl flooring to vinyl flooring that looks like wood, you can spend hours just deciding which pattern you like the most. And what’s more, you can create your own unique designs on your kitchen combining different vinyl square tiles to form a totally different geometric pattern, or to visually divide a room in different areas.

Vinyl Flooring For Kitchens Is Cheap

Prices for vinyl flooring are a fraction of those of marble, granite or even hardwood, and you can learn how to install vinyl floors in order to lower them even more. This makes vinyl an affordable choice for cash-strapped homeowners who want to redecorate and add value to their homes, or for those who enjoy changing how their kitchen looks every few years and don’t want to invest in more costly flooring materials that would need to be removed later on.

Vinyl Is Pet and Kid Friendly

If you have children or pets you’ll love to know that installing vinyl kitchen tile flooring is great for them too. Vinyl is soft to the touch and very comfortable to walk on, besides being bacteria resistant. Cleaning vinyl flooring is easy and quick, and any pet related accidents are not likely to leave a permanent stain, unlike carpets or wood. Worst case scenario, if a section of your kitchen vinyl floor tiles is damaged you can simply pull it out and replace the scratched or broken tiles with new ones.

Vinyl Tiles Resist Water and Chemicals

When choosing to install any other flooring instead of vinyl tiles, kitchen environment should be taken into account. Water spills are frequent on a kitchen or bathroom, which can damage wood or laminate unless they are mopped up quickly. Chemicals such as vinegar or some cleaners can leave marble or granite floors lifeless and dull after just a few years, and resealing them is costly. However, vinyl kitchen tile floors are resistant to both water and chemical damage, and while it can be dented if a heavy object falls on it, damaged tiles can be replaced easily.

Consider all of the above reasons when choosing vinyl kitchen tile floors for your new kitchen. Vinyl floor tiles are cost effective, low maintenance and will let you enjoy the kitchen design you like the most, without breaking your bank.

How to Clean Vinyl Flooring

Filed Under: Information

If you hate the idea of scrubbing your floors to keep them shiny, you should consider installing vinyl tile floors. How to clean vinyl flooring? Cleaning vinyl tile floors is easy and quick. You don’t even need a special vinyl tile cleaner, mild soap and warm water will do just fine. In order to keep your vinyl floors in perfect condition keep in mind the following:

Keep Vinyl Tile Flooring as Clean as Possible

If you want your floor to look as new for years, vinyl tile cleaning is all about cleaning regularly but with low intensity methods. Make sure you sweep and vacuum regularly, to avoid dust settling on the vinyl and potentially scratching the finish away.

Prevention Goes a Long Way

One of the best ways of keeping your vinyl looking great is making sure you don’t walk inside the house with a lot of dirt on your shoes. A mat on the front door will go a long way towards keeping your vinyl looking pristine for longer. Dirty and small stones can scratch the vinyl surface, and the more scratches the more dirt that will accumulate in them.

Cleaning Vinyl Tile

To clean vinyl tile flooring, the best tools are a mop and warm water. Make sure you don’t let the water form pools, as they could get into the cracks between the tiles and affect the glue. If you want to clean vinyl flooring more deeply, a mild solution of floor cleaner and warm water will do the trick. Another option is mixing a bit of water and vinegar, and using laundry detergent and water for in-depth cleaning once a week.

How To Clean Vinyl Tile That Is Really Dirty

Most of the time you should be able to clean your vinyl floor with just a bit of water. For very stubborn dirt, try mixing a bit of ammonia with warm water and use that to clean the entire floor, or spot clean particularly dirty areas with a more concentrated mix. However, make sure to use water to clean the floor afterwards, and always do this with the windows open as ammonia fumes are toxic. You can also use bleach instead of ammonia.

Wax Is Not Going To Help

Waxing vinyl floors is, in most cases, a bad idea unless your vinyl manufacturer recommends it. But what people forget is that many mop-and-go type of products actually have some wax in them to add shine. The only result you will get from using those products for vinyl tile cleaning is a layer of dirty waxy residue dampening the shine of your vinyl flooring.

Protect Vinyl Tile Flooring With Vinyl Floor Sealer

If your vinyl floors are very dirty, they probably have lots of small scratches that are like tiny dirt magnets. A commercial acrylic finish can be applied once the floors are totally clean and left to dry, giving you a glossy floor that stays clean for longer and looks much better.

Benefits of Vinyl Flooring For Bathroom

Filed Under: Information

One of the areas of the home where vinyl tile flooring really shines is on bathrooms and other rooms with high humidity levels. Installing vinyl floors on your bathroom is cost effective, easy to maintain and durable. And it also looks great, and can match the craziest or most conservative home décor styles. If you can design it, there is most likely a matching vinyl design to suit your flooring needs. The benefits of vinyl flooring for bathrooms are many:

Vinyl Flooring Is Non Slip And Comfortable

The bathroom is one of those places where you will spend a lot of time barefoot, navigating your way on a oftentimes wet floor. Vinyl flooring is perfect for bathrooms because it can be treated to be non-slip, making it a much safer alternative than other floor surfaces such as natural stone or even some ceramic materials. Vinyl flooring is also very comfortable underfoot and reduces noise, which is perfect when you are walking barefoot in your way to a bath.

Vinyl Floor Tiles Are Easy To Install

The installation of vinyl flooring is quite simple, with a large variety of self-adhesive, peel and stick tiles that can be installed by people without previous experience or training and is pretty quick. This means you can realistically have a new bathroom on a weekend, instead of having to spend several days without access to the bathtub.

Low Cost Bathroom Flooring? Sure!

Vinyl flooring for bathrooms is very low cost, both in terms of materials and installation costs if you do it yourself. You can buy tiles for less than $1 for square meter, though if you go after luxury bathroom vinyl tiles the prices will logically be higher. However, even high end vinyl flooring is much cheaper than ceramic, wood or stone, and easier to install.

Cleaning Vinyl Flooring Is Easy

The floor on your bathroom is subjected to lots of abuse, from spills to water pools after the children had a bath. It also needs to be kept clean because otherwise it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mould. Vinyl flooring is easy to clean and doesn’t require specialist care or the use of difficult to find cleaning substances. Warm water and detergent works just fine, the milder the better. If you mop spills as soon as possible and vacuum regularly you shouldn’t need to use heavy duty stuff. If you install no-wax vinyl tiles don’t use products that contain wax and it will keep its shine through the year.

Vinyl Comes In All Colours And Styles

Do you want a retro bathroom? Modernistic one? Want to imitate the luxury feeling of natural marble and granite stones? Whatever effect you want to create on your bathroom, you will be able to find a vinyl tile to go with it. You can find high end vinyl tiles that look a lot like the real thing, without the maintenance. So if you always wanted a wood floor on your bathroom, but are scared of the costs and the maintenance then vinyl flooring can be your best alternative.

Vinyl Surfaces Are Water Resistant

Last but not least, one of the major benefits of vinyl flooring for bathrooms is that is highly resistant to water and humidity. Unlike natural stone or wood, vinyl is non-porous and impervious to water, provided it has been correctly installed and there are no gaps between the tiles. This means casual splashing from the bathtub won’t have you running for the mop, though you may want to clean up spills as quick as possible so they don’t dry into hard to remove stains.